DT204: Biomedical Science

Programme title: Biomedical Science

Programme code: DT204

Programme level: 8

Biomedical science is the science related to medical conditions, their causes, diagnosis and treatment. Graduates of this degree use scientific methods to investigate how a disease develops, to diagnose and type a disease, and develop and evaluate new treatments for disease therapy. Biomedical Science has many exciting areas of research and diagnostics, and graduates from the DIT Degree in Biomedical Science may work as medical scientists or research scientists all over the world.

The Degree in Biomedical Science offered here in DIT is the only degree in the Republic of Ireland which is accredited by both the Academy of Medical Laboratory Science [Ireland] and the Institute of Biomedical Science [UK]. This dual accreditation ensures  that the graduates of our degree are eligible to work as medical/biomedical  scientists in Clinical Diagnostic Pathology laboratories in Ireland, the UK, Canada , New Zealand and Australia. The degree provides multi-disciplinary training and clinical laboratory placement in all Biomedical Science disciplines, so that a graduate may work in any of the following areas in Pathology: Clinical Chemistry, Clinical Immunology , Clinical Cytology, Cellular Pathology, Haematology, Medical Microbiology, Molecular Diagnostics, and Transfusion Science. This broad education in all of the key diagnostic pathology disciplines ensures that our graduates gain multiple transferable scientific and laboratory-based skills. Many of the graduates of this degree have moved into research, quality management, pharmaceutical industries and education using these skills.

The degree has been restructured and re-accredited in 2011, in consultation with Laboratory Managers and Medical Scientists from the Pathology service, in order to further enhance the skills and education provided by the DIT.  

The degree is of four years duration, with the first year covering the basic sciences and providing an introduction to Biomedical Science. In the second year core Immunology, Cell and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry are covered, and a module in each of the five major diagnostic Pathology Biomedical disciplines [Cellular Pathology/Clinical Cytology, Clinical Chemistry, Haematology, Medical Microbiology, Transfusion Science].

In third year the student undertakes a 25 week Clinical Laboratory Placement in a Hospital Pathology laboratory with a five week rotation though each of the Biomedical Science disciplines. This laboratory placement is supported by lectures in professional practice which include quality management, ethics, health and safety. The student gains a key insight into how an efficient, dynamic diagnostic Pathology service is delivered. This placement is further enhanced on return to college by modules focussing on the Biological Basis of Disease, Molecular Immunology and Diagnostic Methods in Biochemistry.

In the final year the student will study core modules in Diagnostic and Clinical Immunology, Molecular Diagnostics and Research Methods and Data Analysis. The student will select from three Biomedical Streams and take three modules in one of these. The three streams are A. Medical Microbiology and Clinical Chemistry, B. Cell and Tissue Sciences and C. Blood Sciences. Following completion of these streams, the student chooses a final advanced Biomedical Specialist module associated with their stream. Modules which are offered include: Cellular Pathology, Clinical Chemistry, Haematology, Medical Microbiology and Clinical Chemistry. In March of the academic year, the student will undertake a Research Project for twelve weeks. This project may be based in DIT, Hospital Pathology laboratories or International Research Centres [under the Erasmus/Socrates EU-funded Programme]. The School of Biological Sciences currently has six EU partners to which students travel for their Research Project Placement.

Graduate jobs

• Medical scientists
• Research scientists
• Surveillance scientists
• Quality Managers
• Biomedical Science
• Lecturers
• Science Teachers
• Technology specialists

Laboratories and Equipment

Most teaching and laboratory work undertaken at undergraduate and postgraduate level by the School of Biological Sciences is accommodated at the Kevin Street campus of the DIT. During the programme students will undertake clinical placements in approved hospital pathology laboratories. Final year research projects take place in the DIT, in hospital laboratories or in partner organisations either in Ireland or abroad.

DIT, Kevin Street has well equipped laboratories for foundation and advanced science modules. Each school has several laboratories designated for project and research work. Within the School of Biological Sciences, there are a total of nine undergraduate teaching laboratories. During the 2010 summer period a major refurbishment of two existing laboratories (317 and 318) has provided the School with a large multifunctional, fit for purpose, laboratory accommodating up to 48 students. The learning and teaching environment within six of the remaining laboratories has been enhanced by the provision or upgrading of AV facilities. Over the past two years a significant proportion of the School budget has been devoted to the upgrade and/or expansion of standard laboratory equipment such as microscopes and spectrophotometers. Students can undertake projects in a number of research laboratories within the School.

The laboratories are well equipped with instrumentation and facilities to conduct laboratory classes in biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, bioanalytical science, microbiology, cell culture, and clinical chemistry. New equipment purchased recently for teaching and research includes a 2D gel electrophoresis unit, UV/visible spectrophotometers, a cold cabinet for protein purification and column chromatography, ion selective electrode, oxygen analyser, Elisa plate readers, centrifuges and 35 standard microscopes. The designated microscopy laboratories (room 2002a and 2003) have 15 screening microscopes and a high specification digital camera/microscope system as well as a multiheaded teaching microscope which provides a state of the art teaching facility. The recent purchase of an additional high specification microscope and a fluorescent microscope both incorporating a digital camera system will support both teaching and research interests within the school.

Read the full prospectus information and apply for advanced entry through the admissions website.

First year applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO).

For more information please see the programme content, or contact the programme chairperson:

• Contact: Helen Lambkin
• e-mail: helen.lambkin@dit.ie
• Tel: + 353 1 402 4562